Burma has demanded an end to U.S. economic sanctions, calling the economic pressure "a losing battle" for Washington.
An article in an officially-sanctioned newspaper (The New Light of Myanmar) (today/Monday) said sanctions were "foolish" and ineffective interference in Burma's internal affairs.
Burma, one of the most resource-rich nations in Asia, fell into poverty after a 1962 coup by Ne Win. The country has been under military rule ever since.
In 1990, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy won national elections, but the government refused to hand over power.
After that, U.S. and international sanctions were imposed.
Last July, President Bush extended a range of tougher U.S. sanctions because of human rights abuses and the slow pace of economic reform.
Information for this report is provided by AFP.